Photo: AntMan
How do you begin to tell the story of a family dynasty that feels like it was doomed from the start? It was the challenge that Sean Durkin faced more than eight years ago as he began this labor of love in telling the story of the Von Erich family in the movie, The Iron Claw.
If, by chance, you grew up in north Texas, or in my case, southern Oklahoma in the 80’s, Von Erich was a name held in the same regard as Regan or Cowboys. Everyone knew who you were talking about. They were the most famous family on television in Dallas. Most would say, even more famous than the characters from the show DALLAS. But this story wasn’t written in Hollywood. No one writes that much tragedy into one story. So much so, that many insisted the Von Erich family was cursed.
Now, the world is set to witness a powerful cinematic tribute with the release of The Iron Claw, a poignant portrayal of the legendary Von Erich family. The film, directed and written by Sean Durkin, delves into the tragic losses of brothers David, Kerry, and Mike, leaving only Kevin Von Erich, played by the talented Zac Efron, to carry on the family legacy.
But, there are two brothers not addressed in the family saga; Jackie and Chris. When asked why these two brothers were left out, this is what writer and director, Sean had to say.
“Yeah, I mean, it was the hardest decision I've ever made as a writer. You know, I wrote the script for seven years, and Chris was in it for five of those years. And, you know, I basically, at a certain point, have to separate the real life and you have to focus on characters on a page and getting a movie made and what the storytelling is.”
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4 of 4 Photo: AntMan
Other than the omissions of Jackie and Chris, there was meticulous attention to detail in capturing the essence of their wrestling careers and personal lives. That was imperative to the making of this film for Sean.
“Some of the robes, like, you know, some of those things. We wanted to recreate those to give you that, you know, that sense of place in time!” Sean told me in our interview.
“Having Gino (Hernandez) and (Bruiser) Brody in it felt really important. And not only them in the ring, but them backstage, having a conversation. Them on the road, you know, like being idiots in a bar. You know what I mean? Just like having a bit of that life to it felt really important.”
Not only did I talk to Sean about the movie, but I had the opportunity to sit down with Kevin’s sons, Ross and Marshall Von Erich. I wanted to get an idea of what the family thought of this Hollywood reenactment and how it felt to see it play out on the big screen.
“You know, there's not many stories like this.” said Marshall. “What I wanted them to grasp in the movie, and they did a pretty good job, was the closeness. But I think it'd be hard to grasp. But they (brothers) were so close. They just knew each other so well.”
“Man, it's really, it’s just…it's a huge honor. It is! I'm really glad because a lot of people can probably gain something from all the ups and downs!” Ross shared. “I'm glad people can hopefully benefit from it.”
With A24 films giving The Iron Claw a Christmas weekend release, many are betting for success with this film, poised to leave a lasting impact on audiences. The emotional resonance of the Von Erich family's story is expected to resonate with both wrestling enthusiasts and those new to the world of professional wrestling.
The Iron Claw is in many theaters now and nationwide, December 22nd.